Summary
Bethesda released a bulky update of around 20GB forFallout 76, mainly fixing game bugs. After experiencing a surge in players,Fallout 76’s developer is now paying more attention to the game and releasing patches to improve its gameplay and overall experience further.
Fallout 76is a prequel to theFalloutseries and the sole online-only game. The game was released in 2018, receiving mixed reviews from critics and initially selling less than its predecessors,Fallout 4andFallout: New Vegas. However, after theFalloutTV series gained traction, all games saw a surge in their player numbers.Fallout 76marked over 1 million consecutive players, showing that the online game is busier than ever.
This return to success prompted Bethesda to take a closer look at the game and fix various bugs in a new update forFallout 76. The update is massive, weighing about 20 GB on consoles. The bug fixes are highly varied, from standardizing the status and description of the Father Winter Helmet equipment to fixing the Sins of the Father quest, which could be blocked depending on the player’s choice. However, it is not clear whether this update fixes the"Post Player Join Failed" error inFallout 76.
In addition to bug fixes, the update adds Quality of Life upgrades. Now, there is a Max option when the player buys or sells something to NPCs, the World Activity list will appear alphabetically, the scrollbar in the inventory will behave differently, and weapons will have a new entry called “Ammo per Shot.” One ofFallout 76’sbest weapons, the Cremator, received several tweaks that reduce explosion damage but increase its Damage Over Time.
It wasn’t justFallout 76that benefited from the success of theFalloutTV series.Fallout 4, the game that most inspired the series, also saw a steep increase in concurrent players. Additionally, Bethesda released a well-timedFallout 4next-gen upgradeto further captivate fans. Although the update caused headaches for some fans, especially those with ultra-wide monitors, it was well-received by the general public due to its fast loading times, the option to choose between performance or quality mode, and the addition of new weapons and armor.
With so much buzz surrounding the franchise, fans question when the next game will arrive. The last mainline title wasFallout 76 in 2018, followed by a mobile spinoff inFallout Shelter. However, Todd Howard commented in 2022 thatFallout 5would enter production afterThe Elder Scrolls 6, another title slated for the unforeseeable future. Still, Bethesda seems keen to capitalize onFallout’srising fame since reports claim it will outsource the production ofa newFalloutgameto another studio. This practice would speed up the process and allow a new post-apocalyptic RPG to arrive sooner rather than later.
